It seems like, despite all the advances in technology to help us save time, we have less and less of the stuff, or just too much, either way, modern life is stressful. Stress shows up in many forms. Some people lose sleep. Others lose hair. Some lose teeth.
Stress and your jaw
It’s very common to develop jaw joint problems. They may be due to stress or they could be due to something else. It is estimated that about 70% of the UK population will suffer from jaw problems at some juncture in their lives. For many, in these days of high stress, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can be ongoing.
You may not even know that you have jaw joint problems, as the symptoms may not be felt in that area. But if you have any of the following symptoms, it is worth coming into Smilecraft Dental Care to get your jaw joint checked out by Dr Bradley Abrahams, our resident jaw joint dentist in Stevenage.
TMJ disorder symptoms
- Ongoing pain in your shoulders, back or neck
- Regular headaches or migraines
- Ear problems such as tinnitus, earache or deafness
- Pain in the jaw joint area
- Jaw joints that click or lock
- Jaw clenching or grinding (this may be when you are asleep)
- Difficulty in opening your mouth wide.
Are your jaws properly aligned
Often the cause of jaw joint problems is that the jaws are not lining up properly. One way Dr Adams often treats patients is to fit them with a custom-made Tanner appliance, which is a kind of splint that you wear at night to bring the jaws into alignment. The Tanner device will also help stop you grinding your teeth when you sleep.
Save your teeth
If you do have TMJ disorder and are grinding your teeth at night, they may well start to crumble away, so it is worth getting your jaw joint looked at by our dentist in Stevenage. Dr Adams has been interested in jaw joint problems for more than 30 years and has studied under 2 of the world’s leading TMJ experts, so he will be able to give you well-researched treatment and advice.